Effective Strategies to Reduce Methane Emissions from Livestock
On October 26, Defra announced its commitment to partnering with the agricultural sector to enhance actions aimed at curbing methane emissions from livestock in England. This initiative will involve implementing methane-suppressing feed products.
The decision follows a collaborative call for evidence conducted alongside the Devolved Governments to identify both the potential and barriers associated with these innovative products. Defra is set to work in tandem with industry stakeholders and farmers to promote their adoption throughout England. This strategy aligns with the Environmental Improvement Plan’s objective to seek innovative solutions to lessen agricultural carbon emissions.
With these methane-suppressing feed products projected to hit the market by 2025, Defra’s summary of responses outlines plans that may incorporate guidance, advice, and support via various schemes, including the Farming Innovation Programme, Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, Environmental Land Management programs, or the development of a customized initiative.
Formulated in close concert with devolved administrations, the summary of responses builds on the broader UK efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, including strategies proposed in the Net Zero Growth Plan.
Defra aims to cultivate a robust market and promote the adoption of these products in suitable cattle systems across England, striving for implementation by 2030 at the latest.
Farming Minister Mark Spencer remarked:
Our commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the UK by 2050 is unwavering. It is crucial that we continue to identify methods that support farmers in sustainable food production while also lowering agricultural emissions.
We will work diligently alongside industry partners to develop a thriving market, with the intention to mandate the use of safe and effective methane-suppressing feed products in appropriate cattle systems in England as expediently as possible.
This initiative corresponds with the government’s response published today to the 2023 Climate Change Committee Progress Report, which advocated for the mandatory inclusion of methane-inhibiting additives in feed for UK beef and dairy production.
In 2019, the agricultural industry was responsible for 10% of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions, with methane playing a significant role in this total.
Ruminant livestock, especially cows and sheep, are recognized as leading contributors to greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture. However, research indicates that feed products designed to inhibit methane can substantially reduce emissions, particularly among confined cattle.
The summary of responses has been prepared in close cooperation with the Devolved Administrations of Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
ENDS
Elena Rossi is a graduate of the University of Hohenheim in Germany, where she earned her degree in Agricultural Economics. Her coursework centered on farm management, agricultural policy, and rural development. Elena is dedicated to enhancing the economic viability of small farms and works as a policy analyst, advising on agricultural economics and food security issues in Europe.